Paper roll holder and cutter with printing attachment



y 59 AJKUNZ 2,893,316

PAPER ROLL. HOLDER AND CUTTER WITH PRINTING ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 17. 1958 INVENTOR.

l /uao A/fuA/z BY 0 alum ATTORNEY Unied States Patent PAPER ROLL HOLDER AND CUTI'ER WITH PRINTING ATTACHlVIENT Hugo A. Kunz, Bartlett, Tex.

Application January 17, 1958, Serial No. 709,509

7 Claims. (Cl. 101-226) This invention relates to a paper roll holder and cutter having a printing attachment in combination therewith and has as its primary object the provision of a selective printing mechanism which can be easily and quickly attached to a conventional wrapping paper roll holder and cutter such as is quite commonly used in grocery stores and other places where merchandise is wrapped in wrapping paper which is pulled from a roll supported on a holder which permits rotation of the roll as the paper is pulled from the roll for use. i

Another object of the invention is the provision of a printing device for the use stated which is constructed in a manner where any one or more of a plurality of individual printers can be quickly brought into operation so as to print upon the paper, as it is dispensed, the name or identification of the item which is about to be wrapped.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a printing mechanism for the purpose stated having a plurality of individual printing mechanisms which can be quickly and readily removed for the application of other printing mechanisms which will print dilferent words or identifying indicia.

Other and further specific objects, advantages as well as novel features of construction will appear from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. a

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the housing carrying one of the printing devices.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation illustrating the manner of detachably connecting the rod which supports the printing device.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

The particular paper roll supporting device now about to be described does not in itself constitute part of the invention in that this device is substantially similar to wrapping paper supporting rolls as are now commonly known and in wide use.

Having reference particularly to Fig. l, the roll of paper A is supported in a frame which is made up of a base B from which extends a leg 1 having its end 2 suitably supported in a socket 3 on the upper face of the base. The bracket leg 1 is longer than the roll of paper and is disposed in spaced parallel relationship thereto. The opposite end of the leg 1 is bent as at 4 to provide a supplemental leg 5 which parallels the base B. Today rolls of wrapping paper conventionally are provided in their ends with ferrules one 6 of which clearly appears in the drawings. The ferrule at the opposite and lower end of the paper roll receives a stub shaft, not shown, which extends upwardly from a supporting plate 7 which is rotatably supported on rollers 8 which are provided in the upper face of a boss 9 which is a part of the base B. A pair of spaced-apart arms 10 and 11 have their one ends 12 and 13 secured to the frame leg 1 for oscillation thereon while their opposite ends are secured to a cutter blade C which is at least as long as the paper roll as it serves as the means by which the paper can be severed for detachment from the roll. The cutter blade is held in engagement with the outer surface of the roll of paper through the medium of the arms 14 and 15 of a pair of springs 16 and 17. A stub shaft 18 reciprocable in a sleeve 19 carried on the outer end of the bracket arm 5 engages the ferrule 6 in the upper end of the paper roll. A coil spring 20 holds the stub shaft against accidental displacement from the ferrule yet permits the stub shaft to be pulled outwardly by its handle 21 for the placement of a new roll of paper when the roll is exhausted. The construction thus far described is more or less conventional of devices for rotatably supporting rolls of wrapping paper.

The present invention comprises a series of printing devices which can be readily, quickly and comparatively cheaply provided for use in combination with a roll of wrapping paper, held in a holder such as has been described, which are operable to selectively print on paper as it is dispensed the name of the material being wrapped, or an identification of the material or article being wrapped.

The invention comprises a rod D each end of which is detachably secured to one of the blade supporting arms 10 and 11 in the manner illustrated more specifically in Figs. 4 and 5. The attaching means comprises a two-part clip composed of a lower plate 22 and an upper part 23 which are clamped to an arm 10 or 11 by means of a bolt 24 and a nut 25. The lower plate 22 is provided with an arcuate shaped finger 26 in which the end 27 of the rod is supported and is held against displacement as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.

With the exception of the indicia which they imprint, each of the printing devices is identical and description of one will serve to describe all.

A printing device as an entirety is designated E in Fig. 3 and it will be seen that it comprises a housing which is substantially U-shaped in cross section in that it has a pair of parallel sides. Fig. 3 being a section only one side 28 of the housing appears but the other side is identical. The housing has a top 29 and is provided with a finger hold 30. A shaft 31 is rotatably supported in the housing side walls and carries a roller type printing wheel F. A second shaft 32 is rotatably supported between the side walls of the housing in an elongated hearing 33 and carries. a roller type inking roll G. Exteriorly of the housing at each of its sides there is a coil spring. These are designated 34 and 35 and they have their ends connected respectively to the outwardly extending ends of the shafts 31 and 32 and hold the inking wheel in rotatable engagement with the printing face of the printing wheel F.

Each printing device housing is supported for oscillation on the rod D which passes through the two side walls of the housing, see Fig. 3. A finger spring 36 bears against the under side of the housing top and holds the printing device in a position where its printing roller is out of contact with the outer surface of the paper roll. With reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the spring holds the end 37 of the housing in abutment with the rear upper face of the cutter blade D.

It is intended that each printing device print a different word, name or indicia. The particular wording or name which a printing device will imprint would appear on the top of the housing, as for instance, T Bone Steak as is designated at 38 in Fig. 1. It will be understood of course that the nature of the indicia printed is at the will of the user. If the device is to be used for labeling wrapped meat the several printing devices would imprint v; a series of names such as Sirloin Steak, Round Steak, Rump Roast, etc. The printing matter on the printing wheels would of course vary with the commodity being wrapped.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the device is simple of construction and that it can be readily attached to any paper roll support having arms which carry a cutting blade. Due to the ease with which the rod D can be attached and detached from the blade supporting arms, changes can be made easily in the printing devices when it is desired to change the indicia being imprinted on the paper. The number of printing devices can vary with circumstances and the wishes of the operator.

The operation of the device is simple. The printing device carrying the proper indicia is pushed downwardly by pressure on the finger hold 30 until the printing wheel engages the paper. The paper is then pulled from the roll which causes rotating of the printing wheel and the imprinting of the desired indicia on the paper. The rotation of the printing wheel rotates the inking roll due to their frictional driving engagement.

The device is admirably suited for packing and frozen locker food plants where meats and other foodstuffs are prepared and packaged for the individual customer to place in a frozen locker or deep freeze. The device of course is obviously suited for many other uses where it is desirable toprint on the wrapped package the nature of the contents.

It is to be noted that in respect to each of the springs used with the housing of each of the printing devices has an end which passes through the rod on which the housing is supported. This construction provides an anchor for the spring so the tension is built up therein but also served to hold each of the printing devices against longitudinal movement along the supporting rod.

Departures from the specific construction illustrated and described can be made without departing from the inventive concept, and it is to be limited only by the scope of the hereinafter following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame, an elongated roll of paper rotatably supported in the frame whereby the paper can be dispensed through rotation of the roll, an elongated cutter blade supported by the frame and bearing on the paper roll, a plurality of printing devices supported by the cutter blade support and disposed in spaced relationship along the length of the paper roll, said printing devices being mounted for individual oscillation for movement independent of one another into and out of engagement with the outer surface of the paper roll, each printing device including a rotatably mounted printing wheel adapted to be rotated by the rotation of the paper roll when the wheel is in engagement with the roll, and resilient means normally holding each of the printing wheels out of engagement with the paper roll,

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame, an elongated roll of paper rotatably supported in the frame, the frame having a leg extending longitudinally of the paper roll in spaced relationship thereto, an elongated cutter blade, a pair of spaced apart arms secured to the frame leg for oscillation thereon, said arms carrying the cutter blade, said blade being in engagement with the outer surface of the paper roll, a rod extending between and secured to said arms, a plurality of printing devices secured-to saidrod in spaced relationship therealong and being mounted for oscillation on the rod for movement into and out of engagement with the outer surface of the paper roll cach printing device including a rotatably mounted printing wheel adapted to be rotated by the rotation of the paper roll when the wheel is in engagement with the roll, and resilient means normally holding each of the printing wheels out of engagement with the paper roll.

3. A constructionas defined in claim 2 wherein, each printing device includes .a housing having spaced side walls and a top, the printing wheel of each printing device being rotatably mounted between the side walls of the housing, the resilient means which normally hold the printing wheels but of engagement with the paper roll having, engagement with the housing carrying the printing wheel, and said resilient means normally holding the housing in abutment With the cutter blade which serves as a stop for the movement of the printing devices in a direction, away from the paper roll.

-4.,Avconstruction-as defined in claim 3 wherein, the topofeach of the housings carrying the printing devices is provided with a finger hold whereby a printing device may be.--moved against the resilient means to bring the printing wheel into engagement with the outer surface of the paper roll.

5. A construction as defined in claim 2 wherein, the resilient-meansassociated with the printing devices hold said devices against movement longitudinally of the rod.

6. A construction as defined in claim 2 wherein, the rod which extends between the supporting arms of the cutter blade is quickly detachably secured to said arms.

7. A construction. as defined in claim 2 wherein, a rotatably mounted inking wheel is associated with each printing wheel, and resilient means holding the inking wheel in frictional engagement with the printing wheel whereby. the printing wheel is inked upon rotation of said wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

